5 things to know about winter skin + tips

5 Things to know about winter skin

5 Winter Skin Mistakes to Avoid

Winter is here and for many, this means dry, flaky, red and irritated skin and long overcast days. . Here are the five most common mistakes that people make and my expert solutions to keep it looking its best during the driest season of the year for your skin.

Winter skin mistake: Skipping sunscreen. Are you not using sunscreen on your face since it’s cold and cloudy and you’re not spending much time outdoors? The UVA rays, the ones responsible for changing the DNA of your cells that leads to premature lines, wrinkles and sagging, are almost theexact same strengthfrom summer to winter. Additionally, they canpenetrate through clouds, (you can sunburn on cloudy days) and windows in your home, car or office. This is why it’s essential that a moisturizer with sunscreen is applied to your skin every single day of the year if you are serious about protecting your skin from the damaging rays. Daylight is the #1 cause of premature skin aging and because of this,NATURAL sunscreen is considered to be the best anti-aging product you will ever use.Since UV rays can interfere with the skin-barrier function which can prevent skin from maintaining proper moisture levels, this makes sunscreen beneficial for dry skin types. Every day of the year, use a well-formulated UVA/UVB-protecting sunscreen applied to both the face and neck. (Your neck is an extension of your face so don’t forget to protect this area, too.)Recommended sunscreen:Conqueror CreamNATURAL SPF, has a tint to wear alone, or works best as a primer under your own makeup. 50% off code: winterskin

Winter skin mistake: Over-moisturizing with the wrong moisturizer and relying exclusively on moisturizer to hydrate the face.When the skin is dry and flaky on your face, applying an extra thick coat of moisturizer will surely take care of this, right? Wrong. Your skin is like a sponge in that it takes in what it needs and the rest sits on top. When you apply an extra layer of moisturizer, this may be wasteful since the skin can only absorb so much. As for blemish-prone skin types, too much of the wrong type of moisturizer may cause congestion, bumps, and breakouts so this type of skin has to be especially careful when choosing a formula. The first solution for all skin types is to use the right moisturizer for your skin type and one that has the most effective hydrating ingredients that actually repair the lipid barrier and prevent transepidermal water loss. Some of my favorite moisturizer ingredients for repairing dry, flaky, winter skin are safflower, soybean, sweet almond, carrot, borage and sunflower oils. Unlike other types of moisturizing ingredients used in skincare formulations, these ingredients will actuallycorrectthe lack of oil and lack of hydration deep within your skin and repair your skin’s lipid moisture barrier to make your skin moist, supple and smooth.

The second solution is to not rely exclusively on a moisturizer. Consider applying a serum underneath your cream to give water-binding properties to deeply hydrate the skin.

Winter skin mistake: Not adjusting your skincare routine, as needed. Our skin, like our bodies, is constantly changing. Add in a severe drop in the weather temperature and this will definitely impact your skin. You must make certain that you are using the right products to adapt to your skin’s changing needs. This might include switching cleansers.

Another suggestion is to treat your skin to a hydrating cream all over with hyaluronic acid.( plumps the skin 1000's times.Recommended:Winks + Kisses,made for the eyes and lips, but its perfect for the entire face and neck.

Also, don’t forget to increase your exfoliation. After all, trying to moisturize cells that are already expired won’t get you very far. Use an exfoliating serum a few nights a week to dissolve away dryness and reveal a smoother, healthier-looking texture.

The key is to really listen to your skin. If your skin is feeling tight, dry or abnormally sensitive, then your routine isn’t working the way it needs to and it is time to make some adjustments.

Winter skin mistake: Not sealing in moisture fast.Did you know that you have a 60-second window after cleansing your skin to seal in moisture while your skin is damp to prevent severe dehydration? Since the air is so dry in the winter, it looks for water wherever it can get it and this means taking it from your skin at its most vulnerable time after cleansing. Here’s what happens. When you wash your face, your skin is damp. Water acts like a magnet and it will attract water out from the deepest layers of the skin and evaporate into the dry air. The result is even tighter, drier skin. To prevent this from happening, be sure to immediately apply moisturizer after cleansing Recommended cleanser + toner for winter: Gunk OFF cleanser, as it has a built TONERsince it corrects dryness and soothes winter-induced redness and irritation.

Winter skin mistake: Licking your lips and avoiding lip balm.Just like the skin on your face, the cold winter air can affect the skin on the lips causing them to get dry and flaky. When this occurs, licking your lips may provide temporary moisture and relief but did you know this act leaves the skin drier than it was to start? When the lips are moist on the surface from your saliva, they attract moisture from deep within the skin and will evaporate into the dry air through a process called osmosis. Adding to the lip dryness, there are digestive enzymes in saliva that can break down the skin causing the corners to crack when saliva gets trapped there. The best way to fix and heal dry, cracked lips is to use a well-formulated, conditioning lip balm and apply it to your lips throughout the day. Even if you still feel the urge to lick your lips, the balm provides a barrier of protection to keep your natural moisture in the lips. To exfoliate dryness, mix a little sugar into some olive oil to create a smoothing lip treatment.Use Winks + Kisses on your lips nightly.

In summary, there are so many advancements in skincare that you no longer have suffer from dry, dehydrated flaky skin if you’re doing all the right things. Making these adjustments will most certainly help you have soft, smooth and moist skin all winter long.